Auir-action



.L. B. HOCHSTEIN.

' '9' Patented De@.16,1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

L. B. HOCHSTEIN.

GUN ACTION.

I APPLICATION FILED Amas, 1919. 1,325,400; f Patented Dee. 16,1919.

` 5 SHEETS-SHEET s.

llV VEA/TUI? uiBHochtein L'. HocHsalN.

'GUN AmloN.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, i919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

lllllnuLlllll/ TTUHNEYS L. B. HOCHSTEIN.

GUN ACTION.

APPLICATION FILED APR.25, |919.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

A TTOH/VE V8 Unir l earns ANT orrroir.

LUIS B. HOCI-ISTEIN, OF ENDICOTT, NEW YORK.

GUN-ACTION.

Application filed April 25, 1919.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LUIS B. HooHsTnrN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Endicott, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Gun-Action, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: to shorten the lever movement; to augment the maga'- zine capacity; to readily suspend theautomatic effect; to simplify the construction; to perfect closure of the breech; to increase the rapidity of discharge o f the arm; vto facilitate holding sights on target while operating action; to permit the use of long cartridges; to facilitate the loading and reloading; and to facilitate the repair or replacement of the parts of the mechanism.

Drawings.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the breech block and stock of a gun, showing the mechanism in the closed or discharged position of the parts;

Fig. 2 is a similar' view showing the mechanism in the position assumed thereby at the moment of introducing a loaded cartridge and of ejecting the discharged shell;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the positions assumed on the rst part of the movement of closing the breech, the breech block being shown as arrested in its loading posi tion with the loaded cartridge in position to be introduced to the barrelof the gun;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a stock constructed and arranged for housing the gun herein disclosed, showing a magazine in position thereon and the feeding spring therefor;

F ig. 5 is' a top plan View of the same;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section taken as on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a similar section taken on the line 4 4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a detail view in perspective showing a locking member for arresting the upward movement of the breech block. Y

Fig. 9 is a. fragmentary detail view showing the path of movement of pin 19 and correlated parts.

Fig. 10 is adetail perspective view of one of the magazine gates 54.

Description. As seen in the drawings, the hand lever Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 16, 1919.

Serial No. 292,607.

l2 is primarily pivoted by the pin 13 on i Three mechanisms are operatively connected with, for control by, the lever 12. The mechanical arrangement is such as to secure the requisite action of the said mechanism with 'as little movement of the lever 12 as possible. To this end, the breech block elevator 20, the straight link 21, the toggle links 22 and 23, and the extractor lever 14, are pivotally and coperatively connected and arranged to shift the pivot movement successively from the pin 13 to the pin 24, and to the pin 15.

The various. instrumentalities indicated by the ordinals above set forth have for their purpose a series of distinct and relatively successive functions, to wit:

(l) The lowering of the breech block.

2) The withdrawal of the empty shell by the extractor.

(3) The elevatingof the breech block to the loading position for the advance of the extractor.

(4) VTheplacingjof the cartridge in the firin chamber. l

(5 The raising of the breech block to the firing position.

The first two functions are totally completed when the hand lever 12 is moved away from the kpistol grip of thestock to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and the remaining three functions are performed during the return of the lever to the position shownv in Fig. 1.

Coincident with the performance of the functions indicated, aV series of corollary functions are performed, to wit:

(1) The cooking of the hammer.

(2) The delivery of a cartridge from the may be accomplished by expanding the hand without removing the fingers from the grip' opening and the trigger opening 25, or the thumb from the pistol grip 26 of the stock 27. During the first part of this movement, the lever 12 pivots on the pin 13. Throughout the first portion of said movement and simultaneously, the hammer 28 is rocked on its pivot 29 and the lever 20 carrying the breech block 30 is carried on its pivots 24 and 31.

The movement of the hammer results from the engagement of the riding pin 18 with the loop 32 at the back of the hammer 28, the pin 18 being rigidly mounted in the extension 33 integrally connected with, and forming a part of, the lever 12. The movement of the lever 2O is the result of the connection by the link 21 of the two levers 12 and 20. The link 21 is pivotally connected to the levers 12 and 2O by means of pins 34 and 35, respectively. The pin 24 extends through a slot 36 in one end of the lever 20, the said lever swinging constantly on the pin 31 in the breech block 30. The opposite end of the lever 20 has a roving action accommodated by the elongatedL slot 36. The coupling by the link 21 of the levers 12 and 20, is such as to magnify the movement of the end of the lever 20 connected with the breech block 30, during which time the lever swings on the pin 24. The result of the multiplied movement is that when the pin 18 reaches the end of the cam 16, and the hame mer is partially cocked, the breech block is in its fully lowered position, where it receives a ball-loaded cartridge or shell 37 from one or other of the magazines 50 or 51. During this movement, the lever 20 has vbeen moved relative to the pin 24 until the said pin engages the extremity of the slot 36.

It will be noted that the movement of the lever 12 is continued after the breech block 30 and lever 20, controlling tne same, have come to rest, the pin 18 being drawn to a position below the cam 16. During this movement, the extractor 14 is carried from the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings to the position shown in Fig. 2.

It will be noted that the loop 32 of the hammer 28 swings the pin 18 and extension 33 and lever 12 forward, causing the end connected with the lever 14 to rock on the short end of the lever 14 and the latter on the pivot 15 thereof. Rocking the lever 14 in this manner throws the free end of said lever rapidly back from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. The lever 14 is bifurcated, the free ends of said lever resting in slots in the sides of the extractor bar 39. The sides of the extractor bar have in the ends thereof, vertical grooves 40, within which tthe arms of the extractor lever 14. The sides of the extractor bar 39 are slightly converged at the free end to resiliently grip the shell. This serves when the empty shell is drawn back to hold the same suspended in the track of the breech block 30 and the loaded shell 37 carried thereby, when the said breech block is elevated by the closure of the lever 12 as hereinafter set forth.

The outward movement of the lever 12 is arrested by the pin 24, the lever 20 and link 21. l.Vhen the lever 12 is brought to rest as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the pin 18 is disposed in line with the straight sides of the cams 16. 1t will be noted that the straight sides of the ends of the pin 18 are eut away to facilitate the movement of the said ends on the straight sides of the blocks forming the cams 16.

lVhen the pin 18 has been thus drawn to its downward limit, the shoulder 41 of the hammer 28 is engaged by the sear 42. The scar 42 is retained in engagement with the hammer 28 and shoulder 41 thereof until the trigger' 43 is moved to depress the latch end thereof to release the hammer 28. The hammer when released strikes the bolt 44, which impinges upon the bolt of the firing pin bar 45, the pin 46 whereof is at the time in line with the percussion cap with which the shell is furnished. `When the lever 12 is being closed, it swings on the pin 13 and the ends 19 of the pin 18 are engaged with the straight front walls of the cams 16. The straight path formed by the inner surface of the loop 32 and the front wall of the'cams 16, is substantially tangential to an arc struck from the center of the pin 13. The result of this construction is that the movement of the lever 12 does not influence the lever 14 and parts connected therewith. These instrumentalities remain substantially inert while the lever 12, link 21, lever 20, and breech block 30 are lifted. The breech block, because of the multiplied action resulting from the connection of the levers 20 and 12, is lifted rapidly. rThe rapidity of movement of the breech block increases as it is lifted upward and as the pins 35 and 24 are drawn closer together.

lWhen the pin 18 on the extension 33 of the lever 12 engages the straight'surface of the cam block 17, it will be found that the breech block and the loaded cartridge carried thereby have been lifted to a position where the empty shell held by the extractor 39 has been ejected from the grip of the extractor 39, and it will also be found that the block 30 has moved to a position where the rim of the loaded shell has been dis posed in the jaws 39 of the extractor. This is the position of the loaded shell and the breech block while the lever 12 is moved so that the pin 18 is drawn backward along the path provided by the cams 16 and 17. During this movement of the lever 12, the extractor lever 14 is rocked on the pivot 15 and rapidly advances the extractor bar 39 and the shell carried thereby to the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the shell being placed in firing position within the breech of the gun. lhen the pin 18 reaches the rear end of the straight wall of the cam 17, the extractor bar has completed its forward movement, and the cartridge is in the breech of the gun, but the breech block is below the firing position.

By reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that any upward movement of the block 30 during the period when the extractor bar is moving forward to deposit the shell in the barrel of the gun is prevented by the toggle link 22 extending below the stop plates 49 of which there are two, one at either side of the spaced walls of the lever 12. When the lever 12 is depressed from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, the said lever swings on the pin 18, and the movements of the elevator 20 and the links 22 and 23 connected therewith are such as to place the nose of the link 22 below the path of the stop plates 49. When the pin 18 reaches the bottom of the loop 32, it is carried forward and the lever 12 is swung to the position shown in Fig. 2 where the stop plates 49 extend into the path of, for engaging, the ends of the link 22. It will be observed that when the lever 12 is being closed the pin 18 travels on the straight side of the cam 16, or in a path substantially tangential to an arc struck from the pin 13, when in the advanced position shown in Fig. 2. The result of the construction is that when the ends 19 of the pin 18 engage the straight wall of the cam 17, the ends of the link 22 also engage the stop plates 49. The mechanism controlling the elevator 20 and the breech block 30 is thus effectively arrested.

l/Vhen the lever 12 is drawn back, the pin 18 following` the path formed by the straight sides of the cams 17, the plates 49 are retracted and removed from engagement with the ends Qf the link 22.

'When the pin now passes out of engagement with the cam 17, it engages the curved wall of the loop 32 of the hammer 28. This guides the pin in a path substantially concentric to the pin 13 in retracted position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The further movemen-J of the lever 12 does not affect the lever 14, but operates to raise the lever 2O and the breech block 30 to the position where the bolt 45 and pin 46 are in the firing position.

The loaded cartridge is guided in its movement from` the position shown in Fig. 2,' to the position where it is engaged by the extractor bar, byv means of the cam-shaped .inclined surfaces 47. The surfaces 47 converge and tend to force Ythe loaded cartridge backward to insure the placement of therrimV of the cartridge shell 37 in line with the jaws 39 of the extractor bar 39. The slight overhang 48 overcomes any tendency of the loaded cartridge to pass out of the receiver chamber or any tendency to disarrangement owing to rapid movement of the breech block when lifting the cartridge to aline with the barrel of the gun.

/Vhen constructed in accordance with the present invention, the gun is provided with two magazines, each being adapted to hold five cartridges, such as are held in the usual cartridge clip. The magazines 50 and 51 are disposed at opposite sides of the gun and each magazine has a saddle 54 and end sections 50 pivoted at 51, as shown in Fig. 4, Each magazine has a spring 52, for advancing the cartridges to the feeding position, or the door of the magazine. To this end, each spring has an overhanging hook 53, which rests above the cartridges. The door is a saddle 54 which rocks on a pin 55 and has its bearings in a gate 50 or 51 to transfer the cartridges successively vfrom the chamber of the magazine to the saddle of the breech block 30, as seen best in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The weight of the cartridges in the magazine overbalances the saddle 54 to cause the same to function in the manner described. The pressure of the spring 52 accelerates this action.

When the extractor lever 14 is rocked forward, the sides thereof strike and move the overhanging projection of the saddle 54 from the position shown at the right-hand of Fig. 7 to the cartridge-receiving position. As long as the lever 14 is in its forward position, the sides of the lever prevent the saddle 54 from rocking to feed the succeeding cartridge. When, however, the breech block 30 has been depressed to the position as shown in Fig. 7 and the extractor lever 14 rocked backward, the saddle is permitted to rock for the delivery of the next cartridge.

To lock the magazines jointly or selectively so that they will not feed, locking bars 56 and 57 are provided. These bars 56 and 57 have rack-toothed sections, the teeth whereof engage an intermediate pinion 58. The bars 56 and 57 have each a slide handle 59, by which the said bars are moved.

When the bars are evenly disposed, both magazines are locked, the ends of said bars extending in the path of, and preventing the rotation of the respective saddles This may be seen at one side of Fig. 7 lhen, however, it is desired to feed the shellsfrom the magazine at one side of the gun, either the bar 56 or 57, as the case may be, is drawn back, causing the saidV bar to be inserted into the path of the saddle 54 withv which it is associated, while through the medium of the pinion 58, the bar at the opposite side is inserted in the path of the saddle 54 with which it isassociated. Thus it will be seen that the feed of shells from the magazines may be selected or the firing from both magazines may be discontinued to permit, if desired, the introduction by hand of a single shell upon the breech block at the top thereof.

After the magazine has been emptied and the last shell in the barrel has been fired, the hand lever is rocked to the open position to extract the shell from the barrel.

The shell is now depressed to release it from the extractor by any means, preferably by an empty shell, to a position on the upper face of the breech block, and if the lever 12 is moved to the closed position with the riding pin 18 traveling through the rear passage of the cam 1G, the breech block 30 is moved vertically to eject-the shell after the extractor has been moved to forward position, it being understood that the shell passes between the parallel arms of said ejector.

rEhe lower portions of the magazines 50 and 51 are closed normally by hinged gates 50 and 51, which can be swung outwardly .to permit the cartridges to be forced upwardly into the magazines against the action of the springs 52, the open position of these gates being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

Ulca'ms.

l. T he combination with a breech loading rifle havin@ a breech block, an extractor, and a side feeding magazine; of a gun action comprising an extractor lever pivoted on the gun structure and having a short pendent end, a hand lever pivotally connected with said extractor lever at the extremity of said short end, and means for guiding said hand lever for rocking said extractor lever.

2. rlhe combination with a breech loading rifle having a breech block, an extractor, and a side feeding magazine; of a gun action comprising an extractor lever pivoted on the gun structure and having a short pendent end, a hand lever pivotally connected with said extractor lever at the extremity of said short end, and means for guiding said hand lever for rocking said extractor lever, said means embodying a plurality of cam blocks, said blocks having guiding surfaces for engagement with said hand lever.

The combination with a breech loading rifle having a breech bloclr, an extractor, and a side feeding magazine, of a gun action comprising an extractor lever pivoted on the gun structure and having a short pendent end, a hand lever pivotally connected with said extractor lever at the extremity of said short end, and means for guiding said hand lever for rocking said extractor lever, said means embodying a plurality of pins mounted on said hand lever and extended from the side thereof, and a plurality of cam blocks for guiding said pins for moving the hand lever lengthwise of the gun.

4e. T he combination with a breech loading rifle having a breech block, an extractor, and a side feeding magazine; of a gun action comprising an extractor lever pivoted on the gun structure and having a short pendent end, a hand lever pivotally connected with said extractor lever at the extremity of said short end, and means for guiding said hand lever for rocking said extractor lever, said means embodying a pin laterally extended from said hand lever, a plurality of cam blocks forming guideways for said pin, said cam blocks being shaped to provide a plurality of paths for said pin for rocking said extractor lever lengthwise of said gun.

5. rThe combination with a breech loading rifle having a breech block, an extractor, and a side feeding magazine; of a gun action comprising an extractor lever pivotally mounted on the gun structure and having a short pendent end, a hand lever pivotally supported attlie extremity of said pendent end, means for guiding the movement of the free end of said hand lever for moving the end thereof connected with said extractor lever reciiiirocatively in a path parallel with the length of the gun; an elevator lever' for said breech bloc-li, said lever being pivot ally and permanently connected with said block, the 'tree end of said lever having a roving pi ot connection with the gun striicture, a link connecting said elevator levei and hand lever, stopping means mounted on said elevator lever intermediate the pivot ends thereof for engaging the hand lever to arrest the upward movement of said lc ver' and breech block connected therewith; and

- means for moving said hand lever out of engagement with said stopping means for permitting the upward movement of said elevator lever and breech block connected therewith 6. rlhe combination with a breech loading rifle having a breech block, an extractor, and a side feeding magazine; of a gun action comprising a pivotally mounted hand lever, an elevator lever for raising and lowering said breech block, movement-multiplying connections between said hand lever and elevator lever for accelerating the movement of said elevator lever during the first periods of the movement of said hand lever, stopping means for arresting the action of said' elevator lever when the breech block has arrived at the loading position, means for withdrawing the hand lever from engagement with said stopping means, the extrae` tor moving in correspondence with said hand lever for moving the shell carried by the breech block into the plane of the barrel, and means for continuing the action of said hand lever and breech bloclrelevator lever connected with said extractor, an elevator lever pivotally connected with said breech block and slidably connected with said gun structure, and a hand lever pivotally connected with and supported by said extractor lever and elevator lever for moving said levers successively to function independently.

9. The combination with a breech loading rifle having a breech block, an extractor, and a side feeding magazine; of a gun action comprising an extractor lever pivotally' mounted on the gun structure and slidably connected with said extractor, an elevator lever pivotally connected with said breech block and slidably connected with said gun structure, a hand lever pivotally connected with and supported by said extractor lever and elevator lever for moving said levers successively to function independently, and means for dividing the movement of said elevator lever for disposing the breech block connected therewith in the loading and firing positions thereof successively.

10. The combination'with a breech loading rifle having a breech block, an extractor, and a side feeding magazine; of a gun action comprising an elevator lever for said breech block; a plurality of magazines, disposed on opposite sides of the gun structure and each having a rocking gate; and means for selectively locking said gates.

11. The combination with a breech loading rifle having a breech block, an extractor, and a side feeding magazine; of a gun action comprising an elevator lever for said breech block; a plurality of magazines, disposed at opposite sides of the gun structure and each having a rocking gate; and means for selectively locking and releasing said gates.

12. The combination with a breech loading rifle having a breech block, an extractor, and a side feeding magazine; of a. gun action comprising an elevator lever for said breech block, a plurality of magazines, disposed at opposite sides of the gun structure and each having a rocking gate, and means for selectively locking and releasing said gates, said means embodying a plurality of rack bars slidably arranged with relation to said gates for interposition in the path of movement thereof.

13. A gun action comprising a bifurcated extractor, the ends whereof are adapted for engagement with the rim of a cartridge shell; a bifurcated extractor lever slidably connected with said extractor and pivotally mounted on the gun structure for providinga short pendent end extension; a breech block having an elevator saddle formed therein; a firing pin and bolt thereof slidably mounted in said breech block and slidably connected with the gun structure; a firing hammer pivotally mounted and adapted to move said firing pin and bolt, said hammer having a guide loop formed in the body thereof; and a hand lever pivotally connected with the extended end of said extractor lever, with the saideelevator lever, and with said hammer, said hand lever being suspended by said two first-mentioned levers and said hammer for rocking said levers and for cooking said hammer in mutually timed relation, the guide loop in said hammer controlling the movement of said hand lever to swing the same lengthwise of the gun.

14. A gun action comprising a bifurcated extractor, the ends whereof are adapted for engagement with the rim of a cartridge shell; a bifurcated extractor lever slidably connected with said extractor and pivotally mounted on the gun structure for providing a short pendent end extension; a breech block having an elevator saddle formed therein; a firing pin and bolt therefor slidably mounted in said breech block; an elevator lever pivotally connected with said breech block and slidablj7 connected with the gun structure; a firing hammer pivotally mounted in said gun structure and adapted to move said firing pin and bolt, said hammer having a guide loop formed in the body thereof, a hand lever pivotally connected with the extended end of said extractor lever, with the said elevator lever, and with said hammer, said hand lever being suspended by said two first-mentioned levers and said hammer for rocking said levers and for cocking said hammer in mutually timed relation, the guide loop in said hammer controlling the movement of said hand lever to swing the same lengthwise of the gun; and means connected with said elevator lever for engaging said hand lever to arrest the upward movement of the end of said elevator lever intermediate the full movement of said elevator lever for placing the breech block connected with said elevator lever in alined position, said engagement being released by the movement of said hand lever in correspondence with the guide loop on said hammer,

LUIS B. HOCHSTEIN. 

